Little Big Man (1970) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Jack Crabb, looking back from extreme old age, tells of his life being raised by Indians and fighting with General Custer. Director: a list of 44 titles created 22 Mar 2012 a list of 38 titles created 26 Apr 2012 a list of 33 titles created 07 Jan 2013 a list of 46 titles created 18 May 2014 a list of 26 titles created 1 week ago Title: Little Big Man (1970) 7.6/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 8 nominations. See more awards » Photos Edit Storyline Jack Crabb is 121 years old as the film begins.

A collector of oral histories asks him about his past. He recounts being captured and raised by indians, becoming a gunslinger, marrying an indian, watching her killed by General George Armstrong Custer, and becoming a scout for him at Little Big Horn. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net> See All (108) » Taglines: Little Big Man Was Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion! See more » Genres: Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and some sexual content | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 23 December 1970 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Pequeño gran hombre See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia The main tune played when the the 7th Cavalry were attacking on the Washita River and during the Battle of Little Big Horn is an Irish jig titled "Garry Owen". This song was the official song of the Seventh Cavalry of the U.S. Army - Lt. Col. Custer's cavalry. However, the music is actually a medley which consists of The Garry Owen and St. Patrick's Day.

See more » Goofs During the Civil War, Custer was brevetted at various times to the ranks of Major General and Brigadier General. However, by the time of the Battle of Little Big Horn (well after the end of the Civil War), Custer's rank was reduced to Lt. Colonel. In the film, his uniform does not reflect this and the men incorrectly refer to him as "General Custer" prior to and during the battle. See more » Quotes [first lines] Jack Crabb : I am, beyond a doubt, the last of the old-timers. My name is Jack Crabb. And I am the sole white survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn, uh, uh, popularly known as Custer's Last Stand. Super Reviewer ½ The last survivor of the battle of Little Big Horn reminisces about his life in this off beat comic western starring Dustin Hoffman. The film obviously belongs to Hoffman himself as the entire story revolves around him and his life and he's an engagingly bemused anti-hero as he witnesses the atrocities and hypocrisies of the changing face of the old west, but what gives it real character is the supporting cast of oddballs who flit in and out of his sphere.

These include yet another hilarious and charming performance from Chief Dan George as his adopted grandfather, a smouldering Faye Dunaway as the western equivalent of Mrs. Robinson and Richard Mulligan who plays Custer as a self-obsessed, pompous boob. It's very much a film of its time, sharing much of the flavour of anti-establishment fiction of the era and employs sly wit and gentle humour rather than the sentimentality and melodrama of the likes of Dances With Wolves in its depiction of the appalling mistreatment of the Native American population. One of the strangest westerns you'll ever see certainly, as well as one of the most interesting and fun. xGary Xx Super Reviewer one of the more unusual westerns ever made and one of my favorite films as a kid. starring dustin hoffman as a supposedly 121 yr old man, the only white survivor of the battle of the little big horn. ranging from black comedy to drama to slapstick and back, it's a highly entertaining picaresque and also one of the first films to address native american rights in any way.

a bit dated now and i think dustin is probably miscast (his accent is particularly bad) but i still love it. and chief dan george is awesome! <3 Stella Dallas Super Reviewer ½ Dustin Hoffman turns out a great but overlooked performance as a 121 year-old man who tells his life story. Little Big Man is a good movie but has a tone that changes way too much for its own good. It hits everything from black comedy to slapstick to heartbreaking. Just like with the movie Little Big Man is a precursor to, Dances With Wolves, I felt completely ashamed to be white. The Bill Hicock scenes were too few but at the same time great. Chief Dan George was amazing and had some of the best lines ("does she show pleasant enthusiasm when you mount her?"), the gay Indian/Native American (whatever your pleasure) was great and Faye Dunaway was very entertaining for the few brief moments she was in this movie.

Michael Gildea Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Little Big Man Little Big Man 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,277 Price:$9.94+ Free shipping with Amazon Prime Your rating( Clear )Rate this item 3 people found this helpful 5.0 out of 5 starsOne not to miss... ByRC Evanson October 25, 2016 The definitive western of the early '70's, finally portraying the American Indian as an intelligent, purposeful people with a real culture. The varied paths that Dustin Hoffman's character treads are at once humorous, tragic, and powerful, and Chief Dan George is superb as the Cheyenne chief. It is an unvarnished look at American history from the 1870's, from the perspective of a white man who becomes an accepted member of the Cheyenne, under the tutelage of the "grandfather" chief. Segments with Wild Bill Hickok, George A. Custer, hypocritical religious characters, con men, and the sheer dishonesty and brutality of the white man's government and soldiers of the time, with their broken treaties and exploitation of the Indian are all portrayed with unabashed honesty.

The scene near the end with Chief Dan George and Hoffman, who trek together up the mountain for the chief's last rites, is priceless, and it alone is well worth the price of the movie. 2 people found this helpful 3.0 out of 5 starsOne of Dustin Hoffman's best ByArt Acunaon August 1, 2016 I've watched this movie several times. It is one of my favorite Dustin Hoffman movies. A very dark comedy. Excellent acting by Richard Mulligan and Chief Dan George. Format: DVD | Verified Purchase The definitive western of the early '70's, finally portraying the American Indian as an intelligent, purposeful people with a real culture. The varied paths that Dustin Hoffman's character treads are at once humorous, tragic, and powerful, and Chief Dan George is superb as the Cheyenne chief. It is an unvarnished look at American history from the 1870's, from the perspective of a white man who becomes an accepted member of the Cheyenne, under the tutelage of the "grandfather" chief. Segments with Wild Bill Hickok, George A.

Custer, hypocritical religious characters, con men, and the sheer dishonesty and brutality of the white man's government and soldiers of the time, with their broken treaties and exploitation of the Indian are all portrayed with unabashed honesty. The scene near the end with Chief Dan George and Hoffman, who trek together up the mountain for the chief's last rites, is priceless, and it alone is well worth the price of the movie. 0Comment | 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: Amazon Video | Verified Purchase I recently watched this movie after not having seen it for many years. I was surprised that it did not seem completely outdated. As a Native American I am sensitive about movies on this subject. What surprised me was how Native American life was not romanticized here, and the movie even dared to make fun of some of their behavior. Romanticizing the lives of the 19th century Native Americans is one of my pet peeves. So early in the movie when they first approached a Cheyenne camp and he said something like "I saw their dump, now where was their camp?", I was pleased even though it was not a flattering portrayal.

It was good to see plenty of Native American actors, though I think a few Italians were slipped in as Indians. On the whole, it is a white man's story, but at least it was about how he saw both cultures' points of view. So, still an entertaining movie. 0Comment | 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: Blu-ray | Verified Purchase So often I subject my family to "one of my favorite movies from my youth" and even I have to admit that some of them are pretty awful. The Omega Man comes to mind - great movie when I was 15 but not so much 40 years later. That is not true with Little Big Man. This was a great movie back in 1970 when I saw it in the theater and it was just as entertaining last night. Simply a good story, Hoffman does a great job acting and Faye Dunaway was hot back then. 0Comment | 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: Amazon Video | Verified Purchase I saw this movie many years ago... watched it just recently again.... the story-line is still just as interesting..

though the pace overall is a bit slow... saw Chief Dan George in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" a few weeks back..... and wanted to see him in another film... had remembered him from this movie.... in short... they don't make movies like this anymore... it has some odd but effective methods to make it's points about the world of the wild west... people in general... LBM garnishes some off beat smiles.... a few disturbing scenes... but the truth about how the west was won isn't exactly very pretty.... Dustin Hoffman really doesn't get much character development here... I'd say he almost plays the same part here as in "The Graduate".. sort of a dumb bumbling along personality...a man of not many words... that somehow gets by okay despite his stupidity.. Richard Mulligan of the 70's "Soap" comedy series plays Custer.. I recognize Marty Balsam (the snake oil guy) and one of the guys if "F Troop" here too as Custer's assistant in command... the one with sense to ask " Should we really go down there?" By the end of this movie.. near the final scene... I think almost everyone can agree...

that an obviously delusional George Armstrong Custer , finally got what he had coming to him... While this may take actual fact a bit whimsically astray.. I have no doubt that ultimately... the Indians were probably right about most of the injustice sent their way from the likes of the US Calgary and political machine at the time... If George had only taken the sage advice of his mule-Skinner!! Have things changed any over the last 200 years? Format: DVD | Verified Purchase There are a few movies that deserve way more respect and attention then they got. Little Big Man falls in that field. Similar story telling style as award wining Forest Gump, and every bit as equal in my honest opinion. This movie tells the story of a boy who lost his family, was raised by the natives, and brought back into society as a adult. It gives the other side of the story when it comes to American history, the one forgotten. The side of history that shows George Armstrong Custer for the insane man he was, and how wrong he did the Indians.

Perhaps that's why this movie is lesser known, because it's the cold hard truth, but if you liked Pocahontas, then this should be next on your list. I like to watch it around Thanksgiving, because it just sorta of falls in place the way Die Hard is to Christmas for me. This movie is on my top 100 list. 0Comment | 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: Amazon Video | Verified Purchase Superb. Style and substance. Exceptional work from all involved. Great stagecoach stunts (Hal Needham), great costumes, set dressing and design. Hoffman, Dunaway, Jeff Corey (Wild Bill), Richard Mulligan (Custer) and the profound Chief Dan George all deliver sterling performances. Even Martin Balsam as the cynical disappearing huckster has his moment. The story of Jack Crabbe is not to be taken lightly, for it is the story of Human Beings, of which there are far too few. While other films from the last century may seem dated, this one does not.

It is as pertinent today as it ever was and doesn't hit a wrong note in any of its 2+ hours running time. 0Comment | One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: DVD | Verified Purchase This movie is very funny. It has so much to offer; humor, History, accurate portrayal of Native Americans. Considering that this movie was in 1970, I think it did a good job of portraying Native Americans for once. At that time Natives were only being portrayed by bad stereotypes and historical inaccuracies. Besides Chief Dan George, I didn't like that they didn't use Native Americans to portray Indians; but it was the first movie I had seen that offered a version of truth about Natives, and I immensely appreciate that about this movie. I loved the humor, acting, and historical scenarios. I recommend this movie, if you haven't seen it or even if you have, see it again. You won't be disappointed if for nothing else than the laughs. 0Comment | One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: Amazon Video | Verified Purchase but for the repeated references to native Americans as if they were what the classic liar Cristoforo Columbo called them to satisfy his murderous Queen Isabella that he had found a "shorter route to India" and met "Indians", it was an excellent movie. That the perpetuators of that classic lie continue to sell a bray "Columbus Day" each year as Nutty Own All LIARS DAY, pretending that "Columbus discovered America" despite the identification of Norse settlements dating from hundreds of years earlier, is an offense not only to the Human Beings of the movie but to all sentient Americans. Dustin Hoffman did an excellent job acting each aspect of the presentation, the photography was adequate, and the direction superlative. Format: Amazon Video | Verified Purchase Dustin Hoffman showcases his incredible acting range in this hilarious treatment of a pretty serious subject in American history, namely how the West was won. Faye Dunaway shines as the fallen flower and Chief Dan George, in his Oscar nominated role, delivered some of the best deadpan one-liners ever uttered .

The movie addresses issues such as transgender identity, genocide, polygamy, prostitution and a whole lot more skullduggery. I laughed. I cried. and in the end I couldn't believe I just spent 2 hours watching a Western that wants to rewrite history. It was well worth the 120 minutes. Highly recommended for anyone who's sceptical about the way history has 'historically' been presented. Little Big Man (1970) - Synopsis The content of this page was created directly by users and has not been screened or verified by IMDb staff. Warning! This synopsis may contain spoilers See plot summary for non-spoiler summarized description. Visit our Synopsis Help to learn more Synopsis In the present day 1970, 121-year-old Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman), the oldest living man in the world, who resides in a hospice, is recounting his long and colorful life story to a curious historian (William Hickey).

Among other things, Crabb claims to have been a captive of the Cheyenne, a gunslinger, an associate of Wild Bill Hickok, a scout for General George Armstrong Custer, and the sole white survivor of Custer's force at the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn. Having been adopted by the Cheyenne and reared in their culture, Crabb tells the Historian that he has perspective on both Caucasian and Native American life in the 19th century. Flashing back to 1859, the 10-year-old Jack and his older sister Caroline (Carole Androsky) survive the massacre of their parents' wagon train by the hostile Pawnee warriors. Found by a Cheyenne warrior, Jack and his sister are taken back to a Cheyenne village. Caroline manages to escape on horseback, but Jack is reared by good-hearted tribal leader Old Lodge Skins (Chief Dan George). Life among the Cheyenne proves to be idyllic, though Jack unwittingly makes an enemy of another boy, Younger Bear (Cal Bellini). However, Younger Bear eventually owes his life to Jack, who saves him from a Pawnee warrior.

Jack is given the name "Little Big Man" because he's short but very brave. In 1865, when Jack is age 16, he is captured by U.S. cavalry troopers after skirmish between them and the local Cheyenne. Jack then renounces his Native American upbringing in order to save himself from being killed. After his interrogation and debriefing, and being that he is still a minor, Jack is put in the care of Reverend Silas Pendrake (Thayer David) and his sexually frustrated wife, Louise (Faye Dunaway), who tries to seduce Jack. Jack cannot accept the contradiction between Louise's piety and sexual appetite. When Jack finds Louise one day seducing the owner of a local soda shop/pharmacy, he leaves the Pendrake household. A year or so later, Jack becomes the apprentice of the snake-oil salesman Merriweather (Martin Balsam). The two are tarred and feathered when their customers realize that Merriweather's products are fraudulent. One of the angry customers happens to be Jack's sister, Caroline. Once Caroline realizes that one of the men she helped to tar and feather was her brother, they reunite.

She attempts to mold her brother into a gunslinger named the Soda Pop Kid (after his favorite beverage). Jack meets Wild Bill Hickok (Jeff Corey) at a saloon, and Hickok takes a liking to the young man. When Hickok is forced to kill a man in self-defense, Jack loses his taste for gun slinging and Caroline deserts him. Another year or two later, Jack becomes a partner in a general store and marries a Swedish woman named Olga (Kelly Jean Peters). Unfortunately, Jack's business partner turns out to be a thieving scoundrel and Jack is forced to close the store. The famous cavalry officer George Armstrong Custer (Richard Mulligan) happens upon the scene and suggests the couple re-start their lives further west. Jack and Olga set out, but their stagecoach is ambushed by Cheyenne hostiles. Olga is abducted and Jack sets out in search for her. During his quest, he is reunited with Old Lodge Skins, who is overjoyed Jack has returned to the tribe. Younger Bear has become a contrary (a warrior who does everything in reverse) and, having been humiliated by Jack years before, is still bitter.

After a short stay with the tribe, Jack continues his search for Olga. He eventually becomes a "muleskinner" in Custer's 7th Cavalry, hoping to obtain information on Olga's whereabouts. He takes part in a battle against the Cheyenne, but when the 7th troopers begin killing unarmed women and children, Jack becomes enraged and turns on them. Nearby, Jack discovers a Cheyenne woman, Sunshine (Aimï¿½e Eccles), giving birth. He saves Sunshine from the marauding troopers and returns with her to Old Lodge Skins's tribe. Sunshine becomes his wife and, the following year, bears him a child of their own. Jack again encounters Younger Bear, who has undergone another life change. No longer a contrary, Younger Bear is now the henpecked husband of the long-lost Olga, who has become a Cheyenne squaw. Olga does not recognize Jack, who makes no attempt to remind her of their previous relationship. Sunshine asks Jack to take in her three widowed sisters as wives and to father children with them. He is reluctant at first, but finally agrees and has sex with all three in succession.

One day during the winter season, Custer and the 7th Cavalry make a surprise attack on a Cheyenne camp in Oklahoma (to be known as the Battle of Washita River, which took place on November 27, 1868). A now-blind and elderly Old Lodge Skins is saved by Jack, but Sunshine and their child are killed along with her sisters. Jack tries to infiltrate Custer's camp to exact revenge. At a crucial moment, with knife in hand, Jack loses his nerve, and is mocked by Custer for it. Flashing forward eight years later in 1876, a disheartened Jack has become the town drunk in Deadwood, South Dakota. While in a drunken stupor, he is recognized by Wild Bill Hickok, who gives him money to clean up. When Jack returns to the bar, Hickok is shot and killed. With his last breath, Hickok expresses a dying wish involving a widow he was having an affair with. Jack goes to see the widow, a prostitute who turns out to be Louise Pendrake. Jack gives her the money that Hickok intended for her to use to start a new life. Jack soon becomes a trapper and hermit.

His mind becomes unhinged after coming across an empty trap with a severed animal limb. Poised at the edge of a cliff, he prepares to commit suicide. Jack suddenly hears the faint chords of the traditional cavalry tune Garryowen echoing through a valley and spots Custer and his troops marching nearby. Jack decides to exact revenge. Custer, who remembers that Jack once tried to assassinate him, hires him him as a scout, believing anything he says will be a lie, thus serving as a reverse barometer. Jack leads the troops into a trap at the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. Before the attack, Jack truthfully tells Custer of the overwhelming force of Native Americans hidden within the valley of the Little Bighorn. The arrogant and overconfident Custer does not believe him and leads the 7th Cavalry to its doom. During the frantic battle, Custer begins to rave insanely while Jack is wounded. Ignoring the closing circle of massed Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, Custer points his pistol at Jack.

Before he can pull the trigger, Custer is shot and killed by Younger Bear, who removes the unconscious, wounded Jack from the battle by carrying him to Old Lodge Skins' tepee pretending that he is carrying a fellow warrior. Having thus discharged his life debt, Younger Bear tells Jack that the next time they meet, he can kill Jack without becoming an evil person. Some days later at the Indian camp, the recovering Jack accompanies Old Lodge Skins to a nearby hill, the Indian Burial Ground, where the old man, dressed in full Chief's regalia, has declared "It is a good day to die", and decides to end his life with dignity. He offers his spirit to the Great Spirit, and lies down at his spot at the Indian Burial Ground to wait for death. Instead, it begins to rain. Old Lodge Skins is revealed to still be alive, and says, "Sometimes the magic works, and sometimes it doesn't". They return to his tepee to have dinner. Back in the present, Jack's narrative abruptly ends and he dismisses the Historian who leaves the room. The film concludes with an extended shot of the elderly Jack sitting in his wheelchair and sadly staring into space....

thinking about the memories of a world which is no more. Synopsis Little Big Man - Buy, Rent, and Watch Movies & TV on Flixster More reviews for Little Big Man Flixster Audience Score: 87% Flixster User Reviews Chris Weber Historical revisionism at some of it's finest (and most stinging). Based on a satirical novel, this is a bleakly dark dramedy/western about a 110 year-old… More Historical revisionism at some of it's finest (and most stinging). Based on a satirical novel, this is a bleakly dark dramedy/western about a 110 year-old man named Jack Crabb who tells his life story to a misguided 20th Century historian. Crabb is a white man who was raised by Native Americans from a young age. He grows accustomed to their humane, enlightened way of life, but eventually strikes out on his own to see the world. He gets involved in many notable historical events (a concept later revisited in Forrest Gump), mostly involving Custer, the white conquest of the west, and the dark side of American imperialism. It's not always a pretty sight, but it definitely rings true.

This is a great movie, and definitely one of those times where I'm surprised (but happy), that it was a mainstream affair. It definitely fits into the scholarly movement going on at the time where revisionism was going strong, shedding light into events from previously ignored perspectives, and presenting a more balanced view of history. The cinematography is excellent, the direction is strong, the ambitions and goals noble, and the performances excellent. Hoffman delivers a wonderful turn here, and it's easily one of his best, even though it is sadly overlooked a lot of the time. The dark, quirky humor balances out with the material nicely, and this is a really eye opening film. Please give this one a look. It's not only a gem of the 70s, but a really important masterpiece of cinema in general. Michael Gildea Dustin Hoffman turns out a great but overlooked performance as a 121 year-old man who tells his life story. Little Big Man is a good movie but has a tone that… More Dustin Hoffman turns out a great but overlooked performance as a 121 year-old man who tells his life story. Little Big Man is a good movie but has a tone that changes way too much for its own good.

It hits everything from black comedy to slapstick to heartbreaking. Just like with the movie Little Big Man is a precursor to, Dances With Wolves, I felt completely ashamed to be white. The Bill Hicock scenes were too few but at the same time great. Chief Dan George was amazing and had some of the best lines ("does she show pleasant enthusiasm when you mount her?"), the gay Indian/Native American (whatever your pleasure) was great and Faye Dunaway was very entertaining for the few brief moments she was in this movie. Fascade Fiveoneeight Not a bad story told by a centurian (Dustin Hoffman) Jack Crabb to a reporter about his dealings with (Richard Mulligan)General George A. Custer while also… More Not a bad story told by a centurian (Dustin Hoffman) Jack Crabb to a reporter about his dealings with (Richard Mulligan)General George A. Custer while also being raised by the Cheyenne Indians...and by chance meeting with Wild BIll Hickock. As teh story is being told by the centurian, the realism of his chances and close brushes with death and dying is told in a vivid manner. Truly and enjoyable film realistically retold.

See this..it's not a bad western at all! :-) Doctor Strangeblog Here's the best advice you'll get all day: skip <i>Dances With Wolves</i> and watch this instead. Ahead of its time for its knowledgeable… More Here's the best advice you'll get all day: skip <i>Dances With Wolves</i> and watch this instead. Ahead of its time for its knowledgeable and sympathetic depiction of Indians, unflinching in the underhanded and brutal manner in which white man overran these United States. And yet still sprinkled with humor and grand-scale adventure, delivers the message clearly without sermonizing or using emotionally manipulative tactics, unlike that other Old West epic. xGary Xx The last survivor of the battle of Little Big Horn reminisces about his life in this off beat comic western starring Dustin Hoffman. The film obviously belongs… More The last survivor of the battle of Little Big Horn reminisces about his life in this off beat comic western starring Dustin Hoffman.

The film obviously belongs to Hoffman himself as the entire story revolves around him and his life and he's an engagingly bemused anti-hero as he witnesses the atrocities and hypocrisies of the changing face of the old west, but what gives it real character is the supporting cast of oddballs who flit in and out of his sphere. These include yet another hilarious and charming performance from Chief Dan George as his adopted grandfather, a smouldering Faye Dunaway as the western equivalent of Mrs. Robinson and Richard Mulligan who plays Custer as a self-obsessed, pompous boob. It's very much a film of its time, sharing much of the flavour of anti-establishment fiction of the era and employs sly wit and gentle humour rather than the sentimentality and melodrama of the likes of Dances With Wolves in its depiction of the appalling mistreatment of the Native American population. One of the strangest westerns you'll ever see certainly, as well as one of the most interesting and fun. Richard Block Diluted Medicine, Man, Having just completed the source novel by Thomas Berger, I thought I'd see the film again after all these years.

I'm glad I… More Diluted Medicine, Man, Having just completed the source novel by Thomas Berger, I thought I'd see the film again after all these years. I'm glad I did, though it was not a pure pleasure. The ambition of the film stands out - they really did try to capture the wonderful, unusual voice of the book - like True Grit, a standout book in the tradition of Twain. Hoffman is the only actor who could carry the part off, and he does it great justice, even if he is a bit mannered at times. Chief Dan George is unforgettable as his 'Grandfather.' Fay Dunaway is a fabulous Mrs. Pendrake -his lusty 'step-mother.' There is a great sense of beauty and calm in the shooting of this terrible tale of Indian massacre, and Penn tries hard to capture the spirit of the book. I'm afraid two things let the enterprise down a bit. One is the script from the normally excellent Calder Willingham (co-author of Paths of Glory and other outstanding films). He makes the Indians too nice, caught up in the revisionist spirit of the times.

In Berger's book, make no mistake, the Indians were extremely violent, both to other Indians and white men. You know from the very beginning, when Jack's family is massacred by the Cheyenne and he is abducted - but in the film, by the Pawnee. Guess he did not want too much ambivalence, so the Indians are, pardon the expression, 'whitewashed.' Throughout the movie, white people are portrayed as depraved and crazy and Indians, somehow spiritual and nice (other than eating dog!). He's got Jack Crabb's voice, but not the true plot. The second thing is ketchup. There is too much of the stuff, and it looks terrible. Scenes of violence have become a lot more realistic, and this has more of the red stuff than a busy Saturday night at McDonalds. Nevertheless, it is well worth seeing, but is not a patch on the Coen Brother's new version of True Grit for capturing the era. It is more like the John Wayne version of this wonderful novel.

Jeffrey Meyers Before there was Forrest Gump, there was Little Big Man, a film that gives its' satirical take on the wild west and the Indian wars through the eyes of one… More Before there was Forrest Gump, there was Little Big Man, a film that gives its' satirical take on the wild west and the Indian wars through the eyes of one man, Dustin Hoffman. The tone is wildly erratic, which is to be expected to some extent for a satirical film, as it is part black comedy and part drama, but this does lead to some of the good dramatic moments being lost between the comedic scenes. The performances, however, are really strong all around, and there is some very funny moments and smart satire. The execution is also strong, which makes this strange mix ultimately hold together.

Audrey Lush Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman and the great Chief Dan George is a timeless piece of film genius.A film quite ahead of it's time in it's… More Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman and the great Chief Dan George is a timeless piece of film genius.A film quite ahead of it's time in it's telling the story of how the west was won from the perspective of the Native North Americans.Reflects the tragedy of the American Holocaust almost as well as the book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.The film had a great book from which to work-Little Big Man and has elements of Dickensian humor throughout in displaying hypocracy,society in general and the shakiness of "history".A film that runs the gamut of emotions-skillfully blending comedy with tragedy long before it became a Hollywood fad. Stella Dallas one of the more unusual westerns ever made and one of my favorite films as a kid. starring dustin hoffman as a supposedly 121 yr old man, the only white… More one of the more unusual westerns ever made and one of my favorite films as a kid.

starring dustin hoffman as a supposedly 121 yr old man, the only white survivor of the battle of the little big horn. ranging from black comedy to drama to slapstick and back, it's a highly entertaining picaresque and also one of the first films to address native american rights in any way. a bit dated now and i think dustin is probably miscast (his accent is particularly bad) but i still love it. and chief dan george is awesome! <3 Cameron Johnson "Little Big Nose"-I mean, "Little Rain Man"! Shoot, this is more like "Little Rain Dance Man"... or "Little Sun Dance… More "Little Big Nose"-I mean, "Little Rain Man"! Shoot, this is more like "Little Rain Dance Man"... or "Little Sun Dance Man", or whatever dance the Cheyenne tribe thought would actually work in bending the elements. Man, as crazy as the titular Little Big Nose's... or whatever's story is, him summoning the rain/sun gods wouldn't be all that relatively ludicrous, and he wasn't even born to the Cheyenne's.

If this guy is lying about nothing else in his story, he's lying about being taken in by the Cheyenne after his family got killed, because I'm sure his parents were just trying to get rid of him for being such a big Jew in the Old West. Dustin Hoffman's family must not have drifted too far away from him, because Arthur Penn was so much that level of Jew that he probably was Hoffman's father, but the fact of the matter is that the Old West seemed to do a better job of driving out the Jews than it did getting driving out the Redskins. I joke, but it is weird how scarce Judaism was in the Old West, especially in comparison to whatever in the world the Cheyenne practiced, but now, they join forces to take on the whole "little big world" (I don't know if my saying that makes me want to play the video game of the same name, or play The Hives' "Hey Little World"), or at least tell a pretty good story. Well, that is accomplished, if nothing else, and yet, it sure takes its time to reach such an accomplishment.

As a relatively extensive fictitious biography, this film ought to be tight with its relatively mere runtime of just a minute shy of 140 minutes, but there's still something excessive, to a point of aimlessness that is exacerbated by directorial cold spells, of which there are only a few, but enough for there to be occasions of blandness which distance resonance. Resonance is further betrayed by, of all things, a certain hurrying in narrative structure, which is driven by a narration that doesn't simply objectify storytelling and betray potential subjective immersion value, but dashes over a lot of elements, sometimes with an awkwardness that challenges developmental depth and keeps the shifts in focus from smoothing out. This inconsistency in pacing, at the very least, convolutes the structure of this layered film which is both overblown and undercooked, to the point of some glaring focal inconsistency that is even more problematic than the tonal unevenness. Storytelling ambitiously dances between often over-the-top satire and weighty dramatics which defuse each other as they jar back and forth, leaving the humor to be contradicted by the seriousness, which is in turn diluted by the humor.

As uneven as the tone is, there is at least a certain consistency of cheesiness, whether it be within a humor that is often cornily overwrought, - trying too hard to be sharp as satire - or within the dramatics which often devolve to melodramatics, trying too hard to be engrossing as a human epic. The film is overwhelmingly ambitious, and too often, it is simply overwhelming with its ambition, and no matter how firm inspiration stands, all of this bloating, rushing and inconsistency, broken by a consistency in overt fluff, seem to kind of hold the final product back. That being said, the film still rewards the patient by meeting ambition with inspiration, and even some artistry. John Hammond's score's minimalism underplays musical value that is underplayed enough by many quiet spots, but it's almost psychedelic, in a manner which compliments the surrealism of the film just as Harry Stradling Jr.'s cinematography handsomely polishes already handsome art direction. Well, Angelo P.

Graham's art direction isn't so much aesthetically appealing in its beauty, but in its being so distinguished, and doing much to sell the evolution of the 19th century, the sense of which, of course, plays a big role in selling the progression of the narrative. There is not much dramatic consequence to this film as an extensive study on the eccentric life and times of an unconventional man, but as a surrealistic portrait and satire on the distinctions between native tribes and God-fearing whites of America during the 19th century, over an extensive character piece, this story concept is promising, and done justice by highlights in storytelling. Calder Willingham's script is all over the place, but it's often well-rounded in it characterization, as well as colorful in the drawing of clever humor and dynamic set pieces, while Arthur Penn's direction augments the color with plenty of stylish and slick pacing which is tasteful enough to move at times. Alternating between superficial and overblown, storytelling here is flimsy, but captures a fusion of scope and intimacy which makes the pseudo-epic pretty compelling in its inspiration.

The performances ice quite the colorful cake, with highlights that include the beautiful Faye Dunaway as a hypocritical and unpredictable woman of seduction, as well as Chief Dan George as a wise and good-hearted, if eccentric tribe chief and spiritual guide, and leading man Dustin Hoffman, whose charm and layering sell the confusion and, of course, the emotional sensitivities of a man torn between cultures. Emotional highlights are few and far between, but between these highlights, Hoffman truly mesmerizes in his changing so much in the titular Jack "Little Big Man" Crabb character, a spiritual being, a sinner, a stranger in strange lands, a family man, a mad man, and, of course, a good man, a compelling man who thrives on Hoffman's charisma, as surely as the film itself thrives on him as a character study that, through all of its many missteps, entertains and compels enough to make a rewarding western drama.

When it's time to go back in the ocean again (Well, I guess I'm playing The Hives, because "Hey Little World" is pretty fun for modern rock), uneven pacing, focus and tone, as well as overtly cheesy humor and some histrionic dramatics threaten to wash away reward value that is ultimately secured firmly enough by the nifty style, immersive art direction, sharp storytelling and strong acting - especially by Dustin Hoffman - which mold Arthur Penn's "Little Big Man" into a mighty compelling study of the eccentric culture clashes along the frontiers of the 19th century. 3/5 - Good David Sayers An odd film that doesn't seem to know whether it should be aiming for comedy or tragedy at certain points. It's almost a mix of 'Forrest… More An odd film that doesn't seem to know whether it should be aiming for comedy or tragedy at certain points. It's almost a mix of 'Forrest Gump' and 'Dances With Wolves' and both those have taken the best moments from this film.

Hoffman is clearly enjoying himself in an early star role and although the film goes on a little too long there is a lot to enjoy, as the film is quite episodic and if you don't enjoy one segment they'll be another soon to enjoy. Specail mention to Chief Dan George as Hoffman's 'Grandad'. A great moving and comedy performance. My only big gripe with the film is the sudden ending. Why couldn't the story carry on with Hoffman's character getting older? There is a large gap that demands for a sequel. Little-er Bigger Man? Leo L Little Big Man Audiobook | Thomas Berger, Larry McMurtry - introduction | Audible.com "Classic yet fairly realistic tale of the old west" This is the story of Jack Crabb who's Cheyenne name is Little Big Man. It is told as a flashback of Jack as an 111yo man. It is an enjoyable recounting of the plains region circa 1850-1876 culminating in the battle of the Little Big Horn and Custer's last stand. The first half of the book is outstanding mainly focusing on Jack's time as a boy living with the Cheyenne after being adopted by the tribe.

The descriptions of native american customs and lifestyle is realistically portrayed and quite interesting. Much is said about how native american ways and philosophy differs from "the whites". I always find this interesting to read about. The second half of the book is good but less interesting, sometimes being a tad long winded. There is a lot about frontier life and the life in early plains cities like St. Louis and Kansas City. Narrator does an excellent job and gives the story an authentic feel. 5 stars for the first half of the book but 3 stars for the second half. "It's a Good Day to Listen" There is one quality in an audiobook that transcends all others, regardless of author, genre, subject, etc. That is when the voice in your ears surpasses any voice you could imagine in your head. Little Big Man is a tall tale almost entirely spun by former Old West frontiersman Jack Crabb as a 111-year-old man, so the narration is crucial, and Scott Sowers just totally, absolutely nails it, maintaining the idiosyncratic voice of his character for nearly 20 hours. Jack Crabb was there. Everywhere.

Raised by the Cheyenne after his father's wagon train was overrun, reclaimed by a white family as a teen, and in subsequent years: shopkeeper, muleskinner, trader, buffalo hunter, card sharp, gunslinger, prospector, dandy, town drunk, teamster, and ultimately scout. He returns several times to the Cheyenne to resume his role as legendary warrior Little Big Man. Along the way, he runs into people he met before, like General Custer, Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill Cody, et.al. In the end, he is the only white man to survive the battle of Little Bighorn. This is revisionist history. Published in 1964, Little Big Man was one of the first books about the West to take the point of view of the Indians, to show their lifestyle in a sympathetic light, explaining practices that would seem savage and primitive to white settlers. To the credit of Thomas Berger, he shows all viewpoints in all their complexity, but clearly emphasizes that one side, the native side, took the worst of it as the relentless tide of American expansionism overran their lands.

He also takes some time to reexamine the image of women, blacks and homosexuals -- way ahead of his time on all fronts This is one my favorite books (first read in the early 80s) by one of my favorite authors (read every one of his books), and the 1970 film version with Dustin Hoffman as Jack Crabb is one of my favorite movies. I will argue witth anyone who says otherwise that all three -- book, movie, author -- are among underrated or unheralded classics that deserve more attention. So yeah, I'm biased. But the narrator could have soured it. Sowers enhances it so that I can now add one of my all-time favorite audiobooks to my list. A word of caution. Written in the early 60s, before the term political correctness entered our lexicon, the language can be challenging. No profanity and no slurs directed at blacks or homosexuals, but plenty of cringeworthy descriptions and namecalling of Native Americans, as would befit someone like Jack who grew up with that language.

No one can walk away from this book believing that the name of Washington's NFL team is anything but the worst kind of racial slur (unless they change to their logo to a red potato). "Forest Gump of the old west" This book is great. It is the story of Jack Crab who seems to find his way into and in front of many of the major events and characters of the late 1800s. The narration is great. The book starts with an introduction from "the writer" who recorded Jack's story from a nursing home. I wasn't sure at first as this reader's voice, while fitting the character, was a bit tedious to listen to. Soon though Jack takes over narrating the story and that reader is great. If you like the old West, you'll love this book!

Question: In which 1970 film, did Dustin Hoffman play the part of a hundred year old survivor of the Battle of The Little Big Horn?
Answer: LITTLE BIG MAN